Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1887-12-16
GOTHAM'S CHURCH MUSIC.
SINGERS AND THEIR SALARIES
IN NEW YORK.
Prices Received by Good Chorus
SoIoists-The Chorus Singers Not
Paid-Singing at the Cathedral.

1t is difficult 10 learn what salaries are
paid to individual well-known singers
in New York church chOirs, says the
Sun. The singers themselves are gener-
ally unwilling TO name any figure, and
when they do it can not always be de-
depended upon as correct. The tcmpta-
ton TO exaggeration is great, involving,
as it does. the singers musical rcputa-
ton and opportunities of securing future
good engagements. For solOists 81 800
is a very large remuneration. \ leading
organist in this city said he did not
think a dozen singers in the city received
as much. and none more. Emma Thurs
by probably received the largest salary
ever paid TO "A choir singer. This was
said to be 50, 900 Musical people look
dubious when this figure Is mentioned,
and ~ay ii Is probably Ovcrstated by 5000.
The majority Of sOlOists earn in the
DeighborhoOd of 1000. A cOnsidera-
bic number get 81 200. A very much
larger number receive $500. y singers
actual income Is often some hundreds
larger that his salary. 1t Is favOrite
device Of those who know their services
are appreciated. to tell some friend In
the congregation that they are going to
leave because the salary is insufficient.
This is told in confidence, but Of course
II is widely circulated, "a is in
tended The result often follows
that some wealthy member OF the con-
grcgation, who particularly enjoys the
WORK Of that particular singer, takes an
early opportunity of seeing the singer and
asking the Il 9TH Of the report. The singer
neither admits nor denies it, but leaves the
impression that it is so. The wealthy
member of the congregation then offers
contidentialiy IA certain considerable sum
per year if the singer will remain. The
singer considers for some days, and at
length reluctantly consents. Often the
same singer will catch half dozen in the
same congregation. Thus it is that many
choir singers will tell an inquirer that
they re. 81, 00D or 81, 500 from such and
such a church. 1t may be perfectly
true, but it 10y no means represents their
salaries.
Chorus singer, generally receive moth
Ing. People with good voices are only
too willing il exchange their services for
the benefit of instruction and practice.
Now and then. however. voice specially
adapted to chorus work is paid; 800 is
a large remuneration. In the male chOirs
little if any money is paid out. st.
Francis Xavicr's docs not follow this rule,
'Oul tlIIS CHAIt1 10 III CNNC JllOI All INV IL
4 choir OF able male sOloists Organist
Bruno Klein has for his quartet Messrs.
Arcn Cebia, FranzcI, Nabcrti, and Vein
Itch, all capable and well-knOwn singers.
They receive liberal salaries. But the
-chanceI choir of boys costs little. The
Catholic and some Episcopal churches re-
cruit their chancel chOirs from the orphan
asvlums of their churches, and require
services Of the boys rs a part OF their
duty
Most Of the choir directors say that no
particular class of solo voice commands
higher salaries than others, and they also
agree that good voices of all registers
are equally hard to obtain. Organist A.
H. Nessiter. Of Trinity, however. says
that sopranos are the most valuable
features Of choir from a financial point
of view Musically. Of course, one part
in harmony is as important as another.
Mr. Messitcr says that $500 is good pay
for a solOist as salaries run, and that
many capable singers are content to get
much less, some salaries being as low as
$500. He thinks the supply is vastly in
excess of the demand, inasmuch as an
advertisement asking for one singer will
procure from sixty to seventy responses.
There is no reason, therefore, why the
SnuTCUeS SnOulu HOl ndNt lnc very DtSl
vocal talent at their disposal.
In this city there is room for every
kind of musical ability, as every sort of
choir is here represented. The best
example of complete church music
probably in the country is found at the
.sathedral. There are two choirs there,
the general church choir of mixed
voices and the chancel choir. The
church choir consists of quintet and Il
chorus. Miss Ef1ic Stewart has been the
<sOprano since last May. She took the
place OF Nine. Martins, a Peruvian lady
once under Mapleson's management.
Mime. Martins held the place seven years.
She has now married and returned to her
home IN Lima. Miss Stewart is a
Cleveland lady. we'll known upon the
concert stage of Cleveland, Chicago and
Boston Miss Marie GrOebl has
: recently taken Mrs. Catherine Ford's
place as alto. She is from Balti-
more, and, like Miss Stewart,
won laurels upon the concert stage
before settling here. Her forte has been
oratorio music. Charles Kaiser, the
tenor. is an able musician. He was for
years pupil Of Stock hansen, in Frank
fort. His voice is clear, flexible and
light, materially differing from that Of
his predecessor, Charles Turner, who was
a tenor robust0 in every sense Charles
Steinbach. the baritone, is the only mem
her of the choir who has been in the
cathedral since its dedication. He is
the only one who engages in other bust